Printing press



Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 27,

8 Claims.

Mtv invention relates to printing machines and one feature of the invention is a novel floating separator which operates on an inclined pack of paper of even or uneven size. A further feature of the invention is a novel stop mechanism against which the paper rests.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a predetermined and constant resistance to the withdrawal of a sheet of paper from a stack, in which the sheets of paper vary in size due to uneven cutting; second, to provide means to relieve a Withdrawn sheet from the weight or pre"- sure of the paper inclined against it, thus preventing the paper from tearing or pulling up due to the excess of friction created by the withdrawal.

With the above and other objects in view, as

will hereinafter clearly appear, my inventionl comprehends a novel oating separator and novel stop mechanism.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing typical embodiments of it, which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and my invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view showing an inclined stack of paper resting on inclined rails at the feed end of a conventional printing machine in conjunction with a separator and stop mechanism embodying my invention.

40 Figure 2 is a vertical section of a portion of a printing machine, showing in conjunction therewith my novel separator and stop mechanism.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of another embodi- 45 ment of floating separator.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:

The stacked paper I rests on rails 2 at its base and leans forward against a stop plate 3. The

50 upper forward corner of the paper I is held by a separator 4 at its free hooked end 5. The hook 5 of separator 4 is of prescribed depth to permit the withdrawal of one sheet E of paper at a time past its hook. The separator 4 is mounted in 55 a holder 'I which allows semi-rotation about 1935, Serial No. 28,734

shaft 8 being held lfrom side motion ondisplacement by collars 9 secured on the shaft 8. An extension or withdrawal of the separator 4 into its holder 'I is permitted by the securing screw lil. By the downward thrust of the separator 4 f."

of its own weight or augmented by additional weights or springs, it will ride on high or low cuts of the paper as new surfaces are presented by the constant withdrawals, Suction air nozzles II are used as a periodic means of drawing the forward sheet away from the stack. Such a method is a practice in paper handling machinery.

In Figure 2, the grip-per I2 carried by the rotating cylinder I3 closes on the withdrawn sheet of paper by swinging on its shaft I4 and having secured the sheet against the cylinder I3, draws it upward from the stack around and under the type cylinder I5 for printing, a practice used in printing. ward sheet of paper from the weight of the pack i against the stop plate 3, it is desired to create a temporary space for the withdrawn sheet by hinging the stop plate 3 at its lower end at I6 by mounting on a shaft or stud and rotating a cam I1 in conjunction with the cylinder I3 which permits a sudden forward movement of plate 3 by the pull of spring I8 which is secured to the press frame at I9 and to the plate 3 at its other end. When the steep portion of cam I1 frees plate 3, it quickly moves forward causing a gap for the withdrawn sheet, before the slower motion of the paper stack I closes again against plate 3, By such means, the gripper I2 can gently withdraw a sheet with little or no resistance, preventing tearing, and also prevents the sheet withdrawn from pulling up and bunching adjacent sheets against separator 4, thus giving much better register in printing.

Prior to my invention, the printing of papers has been irregular, torn and not in register, due to irregularity in cutting, separation troubles,

and partial advancing of the paper' due to bunching before its withdrawal, sheet by sheet, in the machine for printing.

Figure 3 represents an alternative embodiment which can be employed.

The cam shaft 20 which carries the cam I1 may be driven by a chain 2| passing around a sprocket 22 on the cam shaft 20 and around a sprocket 23 on the shaft 28.

In Figure 3 I have shown another embodiment lof a oating separator which would be mounted the same as in Figures 1` and 2. In this embodiment, the separator 24 `has one end of a leaf In orderto relieve the forspring 25 riveted to it at 26, and an adjustment screw 21 bears against the free end of the spring to provide an adjustment in the depth of separation.

The paper holder carrying the rails and paper stock can be intermittently moved to provide the desired gap relatively to the stop member which in such ease could be stationary. This provides a kick back of the paper with respect to a stationary plate. Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1 Patent is 1. In aV paperV feed, a paper holder adapted to support a stack ofpaper on edge, and a floating separator pivotally supported at its rear, having its free end free to rise and fall on the stack, and having a hook engaging theV front of the stack with the shank of the hook resting on the top edges of the sheets of the stack to provide a conn stant depth of penetration for sheets of variable cut. f Y

2. In a paper feed, a paper holder adapted to support a stack of paper standing on edge, a

' paper stop for the front of the stack, means to hook at the stack engaging end supported on thev front of the stack at the top edge and overhanging theV foremost sheet of the stack, and adjustable means on the hook engaged lby and supported on the top of the stack to vary the depth of separation. v

4. In a paper feed for printing presses, a holder for the paper stack, a floating separator supported on the top of the stack and overhanging the foreengaging the front of the stack at the top edge with the lower portion of the separator resting Y on the top of the stack, and providing a xed resistance and a fixed depth of penetration for sheets of variable out.

6. In a paper feed, a paper holder adapted to. Y

retain a stack of paper on edge thereon, having sheets of variable out, a separator having its rear end free to rotate and its front end in the form of a hook overhanging and engaging the front sheet of the stack, an adjustable member at the front end of the separator supported on the top of the stack, and means to adjust said member to vary the depth of separation, limit the amount of engagement with the front of the stack and to form a xed resistance to sheets of Variable cut.

'7. A paper feed having a separator with a hook shaped forward end overhanging the foremost sheet of a pile supported on edge, a member xed at its rear portion to the separator and having its free end extending towards the hook and supported on the top ofthe stack, and means to adjust the position of the free end of said member relatively to the separator to vary the depth of penetration. Y L

8.*A paper feed, having a separator for the stack' with a hook shaped free end overhanging the Vforemost sheet of a pile supported on.edge,a .leaf spring xed at its rear portion and having a free end extending towards the front end of the separator and supported on the top of the stack, and an adjusting screw cooperating with the separator and spring to adjust the depth of penetration of the separator.

' ARTHUR S. HUCKINS. 

